Leading E Competent Schools – Implementing Digital Learning Materials Share many similarities with Canadians – environment and education Share similarities in our challenges to achieve this – equity, access, funding and security Background – large school district near Toronto – 55,000 Developed an ICT strategic plan – share projects where we focussed on change in the classroom Anita Townsend – Educational Administration Consultant Ontario, Canada

ICT Strategic Plan Purpose – to plan system change for the effective use of ICT in all schools Consultation process – all stakeholders Development team Pilot projects

Paradigm Shift from Traditional Classroom to Classroom of the 21 Century If you teach today the way you taught them yesterday you rob them of tomorrow Changes in our classrooms is a paradigm shift Easier for some than others Came into teaching when access to tech was limited Left hand side - no

THE PARADIGM SHIFT The 21 Century Learning Environment Digital curriculum content - instructional strategies Web 2.0 collaboration tools Interactive whiteboards Mobile devices Formative Assessment E - Portfolios Shift involves every thing about how we teach and learn – not only is it about the type of content we offer students but what technology devices we can use – one technology device does not fit all teaching situations nor does one of the many web 2.0 tools fit – combination between student needs pedagogy and the content you are teaching New ideas New ideas New ideas

ICT Strategic Plan Five Themes Accessibility Equity Safety-Filtering Professional Development – to support teachers with effective use of ICT Sustainability Needed to be very focused on this integration of technology school system created a very specific plan to change how students learned in our school Created with consultation from all departments and community sectors business and parents community groups that worked in the schools Came up with 5 areas to be addressed

ICT Strategic Plan - Pilots Projects Catalysts for Change Digital learning materials – Interactive Learning Platforms Pearson Connect – Interactive E Texts Global Collaborative Learning projects – Global Teenager Worked with Pearson Publishing an international publisher in over 150 countries around the world to try out in some of our schools their on line learning resources, - 5 subject areas – research project – in the conference book. Other an opportunity for teachers to explore the GCP – different approach to online learning materials Looking at systemic change

Pearson Connect Five content areas – Math, Science, Literacy, Geography and History Content designed by teachers, supports curriculum expectations, approved by the Ministry of Education, credible and reliable Interactive – allows for student and teacher modification and collaboration Content updated by publisher Access anywhere, anytime Cost for online access Not only Pearson Credible and reliable – accurate facts within the subject disciplines Interactive – add notes, highlight, put in pictures and video links, share with other students - becomes a personalized text book Content updated every year

Research Design Teacher Support Student Engagement survey Teachers’ technology use Teacher and student focus groups Teacher Support Orientation session Release time for planning Wiki

Teacher Comments Overall increase in student engagement during class activities Boy’s in the class were more participatory Impact on lower achieving students – allowed more teacher time and student interaction with the material Increase in homework completion Increase in detail in student work Shift in teacher role in the classroom Research report that was written in conference booklet Research this year – on academic achievement Could add voice over for lower achieving students – Shift in role – to a coach more individualizing Easier fro their planning – all in one place

Student Comments Felt more connected to their work Centralized area to access their work Access anytime anywhere – no books to take home More class participation – particularly in group work

Easy to Use

Global Collaborative Learning 2.0 Information and Communication Technologies are used in order to foster communication and collaboration Tasks or problems to be solved are real, meaningful action oriented projects – based on themes and issues Links to curriculum expectations, multidisciplinary Prepares students to become literate and responsible members of the global community Content created by students Different – content is not provided – designed by students Teacher needs to find links to the curriculum Issues problems of themes Students live and work in the future with those from different cultures – no more borders

Global Teenager Project Global issues problems or themes Learning circle format Ten weeks for each project Monitored Research based questions Collective wisdom and problem solving www.globalteenager.org Advantages is monitored – coordinator in each country who supports teachers – working here in